3/31/19: Open Game Thread

The Mariners are guaranteed no worse than a series split with the defending World Series champs, which, let’s face it, is not an outcome most of us would have guessed after they got thoroughly waxed by the Padres in that exhibition game and looked like a team a little jetlagged, a little unsteady. But a series split and one Hunter Strickland implosion away from winning the series sounds pretty good (although a series win and one HSI away from sweeping sounds even better).

Lineups:

(ParkWhiz? Is that like Stadium Pal?) Benintendi is out today after fouling a ball sharply off his knee last night, but will be available off the bench.

IT’S A VOGEY START. [breakdancing] PEANUT BUTTER JAY BRUCE AND A VOGEY START. Finally we have broken through the tyranny of the Red Sox lefty starters and our sweet lefty-swinging boy gets a shot. Mallex also returns to the lineup after having a day off as he continues to work back to a full-time role after missing all of Spring Training. Also, Wade! Last night at the ballpark there was a Wade-Marco bit called “co-workers” or something on MarinersVision where they were sitting on beanbag chairs and fighting with play swords, and I MISSED it because I was in a terrible long line, because Red Sox series. If anyone has a link, I would appreciate it. I hope this will be a regular feature.

In other news, this doesn’t sound great:

Grade 2 could still be several months, so bullpen adventures will continue as the Mariners seek someone who can protect that narrowest of margins, a four-run lead.